May Song Vang, a leader in the Hmong community both during and after the death of her husband, the iconic Hmong General Vang Pao, died this week in her home state of California. (Courtesy of www.franken.senate.gov)

May Song Vang, a leader in the Hmong community both during and after the death of her husband, the iconic Hmong General Vang Pao, died this week in her home state of California. (Courtesy of www.franken.senate.gov)

May Song Vang, a leader in the Hmong community both during and after the death of her husband, the iconic Hmong Gen. Vang Pao, died this week in her home state of California.

May Song Vang died Monday at the University of California’s Irvine Medical Center after battling cancer since 2005, according to the Fresno Bee. She was 62.

Former Minnesota state Rep. Cy Thao said funeral arrangements were pending in Fresno, and he was not aware of any service locally.

May Song Vang never lived in Minnesota, but she accompanied Vang Pao during his appearances here. She became a leader of the Hmong community and the face of Vang Pao’s influential family after his death in 2011.

Born Feb. 5, 1951, she became a nurse, working with disabled people. She married Vang Pao in 1973, according to family members who spoke to the Fresno Bee. The couple first moved to Montana and then California.

Vang Pao was revered by the local Hmong community. The general led Hmong guerrillas in their CIA-backed battle against communists during the Vietnam War. The Hmong faced persecution after the communists took over Laos in 1975.

Vang Pao was credited with helping resettle tens of thousands of Hmong from the hills of Laos into American cities such as Fresno, St. Paul and Milwaukee.

U.S. Sen. Al Franken released a statement Wednesday mourning May Song Vang’s passing, calling her “a leader in the Hmong community at a critical time in history.”

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